GENERAL OPERATIONS I. OPENING SHIFT PROCEDURE (before 10:00 a.m.) A. To enter the building, go through the staff entrance, which is the side door of library facing Buccaneer. B. Light switch for salesroom is on wall above volunteer desk. The light for the workroom remains on at all times. C. The keys for the salesroom (largest), file cabinet (silver), and desk (gold) are located in center drawer of volunteer desk. D. Unlock file cabinet in workroom; remove cash box and donation jar from top drawer. Relock the file cabinet. Place cash box in volunteer desk drawer (second drawer on right) and jar on top of desk. E. Cash box can be opened when 000 is in alignment on the lock. No combination is necessary. F. Turn door sign to Open, and unlock the door to the main hallway (by turning the key 360 degrees to the left, i.e., counter-clockwise and removing the key; to check to see that you've got the door in an unlocked position, hold the door open, turn the outside handle and watch the latch bolt if it moves, the door is unlocked). II. III. CLOSING SHIFT PROCEDURE A. Turn door sign to closed and lock door (to lock the door, turn the key right clockwise 360 degrees, then remove the key). B. Secure cash box cover by just moving one number to anything. This is necessary or lid will not engage with box and money can be easily spilled. Return box and donation jar to top drawer of file locking cabinet. C. Turn off lights in sales room. D. Exit library through main doors or staff entrance. All SHIFTS A. If library is already open, you may use either entrance. B. Follow the above procedures if no volunteer is staffing the room before you. (Opening Shift Procedure) or after you (Closing Shift Procedure). C. Bookstore volunteer tags are in the middle desk drawer (or will be handed to you by your predecessor). Please put one on as you begin your shift and pass it on to your successor, or put it back in the middle desk drawer, when leaving. D. Sign your name, date and hours worked in Sign In Notebook. The library keeps track of hours worked by volunteers. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT E. Cash Box 1. Base money of $75.00, in smaller bills should be kept in the cash box at the start and end of each shift. Follow guideline in cash box for proper break down of money. 2. At end of each shift, remove all BILLS and CHECKS in excess of $75.00, again following guideline, and place in cash envelope found in desk 1
drawer (see Attachment A). Fill in the blanks on the front of the envelope, then drop envelope through the slot in moneybox in top drawer of file cabinet. IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL TAX- FREE SALES and record the amount on the envelope in the appropriate place. 3. Extra cash can be found in zippered bag in top drawer of file cabinet to be used to make change if needed. 4. If you will be away from the desk temporarily (e.g., to go to restroom or file books), lock the desk; this will prevent the drawer containing the money box from being opened, but will allow the center drawer to be opened. F. Phone 1. Located on desk in workroom 2. The main number for the library is (281) 488-1906. Our extension is 103. Although you will hear the ring of ALL incoming calls (one long ring), if the call is for the bookstore it will be forwarded to our extension by an operator and the ring will be two shorts. 2. Local outside calls can be made by pressing one of the three lines marked outside. 3. It is our policy that customers not use the library phone. Refer them to the public phones in the main entrance hallway. G. Books on Upstairs Shelves/Cart Two large shelves (or a shelf and a cart) with books from the bookstore are located on the right as you enter the second floor main room. One of these shelves is outfitted with an attached silver box for depositing money, and books are sold on the honor system. The workroom people are responsible for stocking the carts and the treasurer retrieves the money bi-weekly. If customers do not have the correct change, they may bring their books down to the store to purchase. This money does not need to be kept separate from bookstore money. H. Personal 1. No food or drink, other than water is allowed at volunteer desk. 2. If you wish, after removing cash box, purses can be secured in file cabinet drawer during your shift. Purses or personal items can also be put in the bottom right hand drawer of the volunteer desk when space is available there. VOLUNTEER DUTIES I. ASSIST CUSTOMERS A. Locating specific types of books and other items. 1. Become familiar with floor plan layout and try to familiarize yourself with stock as much as possible. B. Learn prices of various items referring to signs on wall and bulletin board. 2
II. REVIEW THE NOTEBOOK (loose leaf pages behind these procedures). A. Use to communicate questions, problems or suggestions to and from the Bookstore Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, and others involved in Bookstore operation. B. Read new entries since your last shift to note any changes. C. Record customers unanswered questions or pertinent comments, initial and date. D. The Bookstore Manager or Volunteer Coordinator will read all entries, respond if needed and initial. III. RECEIVE BOOKS DONATED DURING SHIFT A. Newly donated books should be placed against the back wall of the workroom. If donors have a number of boxes to donate, advise them that they can park in the loading area in the back of the library and dolly them in from there if they prefer (dollies are in the library store room offer to customer if needed). Also if needed, you can ask an able young person on the library staff to lend a hand. Books must be put in workroom (against back wall), not left in library. B. Provide tax receipt if requested (attachment B--folder with forms is in file holder behind desk). You do not need to count and fill in the number of books; the donor can complete that area on form. C. We do not accept ordinary commercial magazines (e.g. Time, Vogue, People, National Geographic). We will accept high quality specialty magazines that have the potential of being priced at $1.00 or more (e.g., Architectural Digest). IV. MAINTAIN BOOKS A. Straighten and maintain existing shelved books in proper order. 1. Straighten books on wall shelves by pulling all books uniformly to the front of the shelf and stand in an upright position (use devices provided for this purpose). 2. Straighten books on carts by putting in an upright position. Put larger books (i.e., widest from front edge to spine) at the ends and progressively smaller books in toward the middle (titles of smaller books otherwise become obscured). B. Restock sales room shelves with sorted books that are on your right as you enter the work room (the shelves between the door and the workroom desk). Shelve fiction alphabetically by author, and non-fiction by placing in closest matching category. NOTE: Do not shelve any books unless you are reasonably sure in which category they belong. V. MAKE SALES TRANSACTIONS A. COMPLETE TRANSACTION 3
1. Total the price of all the books and other items to be purchased. (If a large purchase, it is easier to put them in piles according to their prices). 2. Refer to price lists on wall for prices. 3. Use calculator when necessary or when a receipt is needed. 4. Figure 10% discounts if customer presents Friend s Membership card (see attachment C). 5. Figure sales tax using sales tax sheets or calculator. Sales tax is 8.25% unless customer presents you with proof of tax exemption. 6. Present total to customer. 7. Place books in plastic sacks if necessary. These are in a canvas bag next to desk, and there are extras behind the door in the work room. 8. If customers request books to be held, inform them that we will do it for two full days (i.e., for the balance of the day on which the hold is requested, and the next two full days). Fill out a hold form, put it with item(s) being held, and place on top of file cabinet in work room. B. CASH/CHECKS ONLY 1. We are not set up to accept credit cards express regrets. 2. Checks are to be made out to Friends of Freeman Library. 3. Write driver s license number and phone number on all checks, unless they are preprinted. 4. Bad checks-if we have any, a list will be taped to inside of cash box. Refer to this before accepting any checks. C. DISCOUNT CARDS 1. All current members of The Friends of Freeman Library have been sent membership discount cards (this is NOT their library card). A 10% discount is given to members when they present their cards. Be sure to check expiration dates. D. CASH DONATIONS 1. Often customers have told volunteer to keep the change after a sale is made. If this happens, place the extra money in the specially marked jar for Donations on the desk. This money is not taxed and will be taken care of by bookstore management personnel. E. RECEIPT BOOK. A book of receipt forms is in the desk drawer (attachment D). Schools, churches, book dealers, and others often need a receipt. F. OPTIONAL. If you want to keep track of your sales during your shift [advantages: (1) makes it easy to total your sales, if that is of interest to you, and (2) makes it easy to keep track of tax-free sales], use The Sales Record By Shift form. (attachment E) VI. NEW AND RENEWAL OF FRIENDS MEMBERSHIPS 4
Call customer s attention to the membership applications and envelopes for mailing which are in the plastic holder on the desk, and tell them about the 10% discount when buying books and other items at the bookstore. 1. If a person signs up immediately, place envelope with check or cash and form in Friends Membership mail box in the work room. VII. VIII. IX. ENQUIRE IF CUSTOMER IS INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BOOKSTORE VOLUNTEER If you encounter a customer who in your judgment might be a good volunteer for the bookstore, give him or her a copy of our standard application form. THE FRIENDS CAMPAIGN If customers have questions about purchasing bricks/pavers etc., give them a form found in plastic holder on windowsill. If a question about previously purchased pavers arises, take information and put in Mailbox labeled Midge Baugh, or give her phone number (281-488-1104) to person making the inquiry. WHEN YOU CAN T MAKE IT If you are unable to cover your regularly assigned shift, contact the volunteer coordinator as soon as possible so he or she can send out an email notifying other volunteers of the need to fill it. X. LATE OR NO SHOWS If (1) your replacement is late and you have been notified but are unable to stay, or (2) your replacement simply fails to show up, follow the closing procedure and put a note in THE NOTEBOOK. VOLUNTEER INFORMATION I. Home phone numbers and e-mails of Bookstore Manager, Deputy, Volunteer Coordinator and Assistant Volunteer Coordinator: John - Book Store Manager [telephone number] [email address] Bert - Deputy Book Store Manager [same] Cecile -Bookstore Volunteer Coordinator [same] Walt -Bookstore Assistant Volunteer Coordinator 5
[same] II. III. List of current volunteers, email addresses, and phone numbers A. These are in a labeled folder in the file holder behind desk, as well as in your folders. There is also a copy in a plastic holder by the phone in the workroom. B. Volunteer Coordinator will update this information as deemed necessary. Weekly Schedules (attachment F). A. Done by Volunteer Coordinator or Assistant one week (or more) in advance. B. Current week s schedule will be put on the bulletin board next to volunteer desk. When possible, the following week will be on the reverse side. 6